Egypt's ambassador, Ashraf Swelam (C), accompanied by his wife Jumana Shehata (R), presents his credentials to Britain's King Charles III (L) during a private audience at Buckingham Palace in London.
During the private audience, Ambassador Swelam conveyed the greetings of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to His Majesty, along with his best wishes to the British government and people for continued progress and prosperity. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, which have witnessed notable momentum in recent years.
The ambassador emphasised that this positive trajectory paves the way for the anticipated visit of the British Prime Minister to Egypt early next year, during which both sides are expected to announce the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. The visit is also set to include a high-level business forum bringing together leading Egyptian and British companies, reflecting shared interest in expanding economic cooperation.
The meeting also touched on the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum. King Charles expressed his desire to visit the landmark cultural institution, praising it as a unique addition to the global museum landscape and a contemporary expression of the depth of Egypt’s ancient civilization. He also highlighted the opportunities it offers for strengthening cultural cooperation between Egypt and the United Kingdom.
In this context, the King thanked Ambassador Swelam for the commemorative gift presented to him — a miniature model of the Grand Egyptian Museum featuring a component named “United Kingdom,” symbolizing the deep historical ties between the two countries. His Majesty personally placed the piece bearing the UK’s name within the model.
Discussions also addressed the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue as a cornerstone for promoting international peace and security. King Charles commended Egypt’s historic role as a bridge between civilizations and religions, and its model of moderation, coexistence, and mutual respect, expressing support for initiatives aimed at combating hate speech and extremism.
At the conclusion of the meeting, King Charles welcomed the Egyptian ambassador and wished him success in his duties, expressing appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal role in the region and the United Kingdom’s keenness to continue working closely with Cairo to advance political, economic, and cultural relations.
Short link: